Welcome to New in Cruise, our bi-weekly update on all the latest happenings in the cruise sector. Here’s what’s been happening in the industry so far in June.
Some theme cruises leave you dehydrated, sleep-deprived, and in need of a detox. One cruise line aims to send you home healthier than you arrived.
Luxury all-inclusive cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced its 2027 Spotlight Collection of themed sailings, and the standout itinerary is its first-ever Elemis wellness cruise. Regent, like many other luxury cruise lines, is seeing the growing demand for longevity travel and rejuvenating vacations and planning special sailings around these wellness trends.
The 10-night Spotlight Voyage on Wellness & Longevity with Elemis will take place aboard Regent’s forthcoming Seven Seas Prestige, setting sail on August 21, 2027. The ship will sail from Trieste, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain, calling in Argostoli (Cephalonia), Gythion, Athens (Piraeus), Mykonos, and Santorini, Greece, plus Ibiza, Spain.
Mediterranean islands are irresistible, but the real draw are the wellness activities. Regent has partnered with Elemis, the luxury skincare and wellness brand found on many cruise lines, to offer wellness activities focused on four pillars: diet and nutrition, mind and stress, skin and longevity, and movement and exercise.
Guests can seek transformation through expert-led wellness activities and mindfulness sessions. They can attend BeMoved classes, a dance fitness program intended to improve well-being as it enhances balance, flexibility, and core strength. The cruise will also embrace culinary programming inspired by Blue Zones communities where inhabitants live longer than anywhere else in the world.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ other 2027 Spotlight Voyages include several wine-themed sailings, an epicurean exploration with cookbook author and podcaster Mark Bittman, and a genealogy-focused cruise in partnership with Ancestry.com.
Regent is far from the only luxury cruise line to embrace wellness and healthy aging. Clients who wish to blend travel with health-centered activities can choose from a growing list of wellness sailings. No longer just about pampering spa treatments and daily fitness classes, these cruises focus on healthy habits that will stretch your body and mind and help fight the aging process.
Cunard’s first Wellness at Sea voyage sets sail in July 2026. The cruise line has teamed up with Harper’s Bazaar to bring aboard wellness experts to lead talks and classes, and guests can book Wellness at Sea packages centered around calming your mind, easing pain, and energizing your body.
Orient Express Sailing Yachts has announced a 14-day wellness retreat aboard Corinthian in partnership with Guerlain in October 2026. During the transatlantic crossing, guests can learn from five wellness experts about relaxation rituals, mindful breathwork, regenerative nutrition, functional movement, and the restorative effects of massage.
Partnerships are also common. Explora Journeys has partnered with tennis star Jannik Sinner for its Ocean Wellness Programme; Scenic Cruises has hosted yoga teacher Marcos Jassan. Crystal’s recently announced Wellness at Sea retreat this October will feature Sanctum, a music-based movement practice that combines breathwork with both meditative and high-intensity movement.
Wellness tourism is a booming business, whether on land or at sea. The sector is a top priority for 84% of U.S. consumers, with 60% interested in healthy aging, according to McKinsey’s 2025 Future of Wellness trend survey. The wellness tourism industry is growing and expected to jump from $894 billion in 2024 to $1.4 trillion in 2029, says Phocuswright research. Luxury cruise lines are perfectly positioned to dive into this trend with a mix of clients with money to spend on longevity retreats and time to devote to establishing healthy habits, plus the calming backdrop of ocean waves and sea breezes.
Forget about the fountain of youth. Luxury cruising is now the key to longevity for clients who book the right cruises.
In Case You Missed It…
New Ships and Launches
- Four Seasons II will feature 79 suites, including a new collection of Yacht Residential Suites, when it debuts in 2028.
- Royal Caribbean has taken delivery of Legend of the Seas, its newest Icon Class ship, which will set off on its maiden voyage in Europe in July. The line also laid the keel for its seventh Oasis Class ship, debuting in 2028.
- Viking has taken delivery of the 190-passenger Viking Annar, which will sail the Rhine and Danube, and the 168-passenger Viking Fjolvar, which will cruise the Seine.
- Regent’s Seven Seas Prestige, debuting in December 2026, will woo foodies with 64 Culinary Arts Kitchen classes and 25 Epicurean Explorer tours.
Onboard Updates
- Seabourn Quest has emerged from dry dock with reimagined and enhanced public spaces, and the cruise line is repurposing and recycling the old carpeting, mattresses, and lounge furnishings.
- Princess Cruises and retail company Starboard have expanded their partnership beyond Star Princess to include eight ships.
- Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled a new dining program for new ships Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale, featuring new restaurants and bars, refreshed menus in the main dining room and pool deck venues, new breakfast and ice cream pop-ups, express dining, and mobile coffee orders.
Itinerary Roundup
- Viking has added new shore excursions and experiences to its Europe river cruise offerings, including Zeppelin airship flights and winery dinners.
- Royal Caribbean opened its new cruise terminal in Seward, Alaska, which will offer shore power, a direct link with the Alaska Railroad, and two berths that can accommodate large modern ships.
- Princess Cruises will offer its largest Europe season ever in 2028, with six ships sailing 291 departures across Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and transatlantic voyages.
- Oceania Cruises announced its 2027 Northern Europe itineraries with three ships (Insignia, Marina and Vista) visiting ports across the Baltic and Scandinavia, British Isles and Ireland, Greenland and Iceland.
- Tauck has opened its 2027 Tauck Bridges family cruise itineraries for booking. In addition to river cruises and Galapagos explorations, Tauck now offers small-ship Croatia cruises on a 34-passenger yacht.
On Sale Now
- Azamara has unveiled its 2027 collection of Overland Experiences, featuring 18 multi-day land journeys across seven countries that take place mid-cruise.
- Emerald Cruises is running a promotion through June 28, offering savings on yacht cruises and upgrades and waiving the single supplement on select itineraries.
For the Advisor
- Pavlus Travel & Cruise has appointed Erik De La Cruz (formerly of Viking) as its vice president of marketing and Michael Steudle to chief luxury growth officer.
- Virgin Voyages has announced a new Groups program that includes zero deposit, a drinks credit for the group, a dining coordinator, and, for a limited time, one free cabin for every 12 booked.
Related Stories
Review: Cruising the Magdalena River w AmaWaterways' AmaMelodia
New in Cruise: Holland America's Push for Winter Euro Cruises
Is Quiet Season Too Quiet? The Growing Trend of Winter Cruising in the Mediterranean